Northern Nutcracker

The northern nutcracker is a dark, broad-winged corvid with a short tail and an unusually long, pointed bill. It measures 32–38cm from bill to tail and spans 49–53cm across the wings. Chocolate-brown body plumage is densely marked with white spots, while the wings and upper tail are nearly black with a greenish-blue gloss. A white vent, white tail corners and pale terminal band become especially noticeable in flight, which is typically undulating. (Wikipedia, northern nutcracker account)

Northern nutcrackers occupy a broad belt of taiga conifer forest from Scandinavia across Siberia to eastern Asia, with separate populations in mountain forests farther south. They are generally non-migratory, but food shortages caused by poor cone crops can trigger conspicuous irruptions beyond the normal range. Four subspecies are recognized; the long-billed macrorhynchos occurs from the Ural Mountains through eastern Siberia to northeastern China. The species' strong bill and even its scientific and English names reflect its association with nuts. (Wikipedia, northern nutcracker account)